| Maybe it’s the cold weather or the fact that so | | | | faulty ballcock by lifting up on the float ball while |
| many people are out of work and have time on their | | | | someone turns on the faucet that is causing the |
| hands to listen for it but it seems this weeks | | | | noise. |
| discussion forums are full of questions about plumbing | | | | 3. Bad faucet washer. If your nosie only happens |
| noises, most specifically water hammer. Water | | | | when using a certain faucet the faucet washer may |
| hammer is that thunking, clunking, clanging noise you | | | | be loose or damaged. This can cause it to flutter in |
| get when you turn a faucet off or the washing | | | | the water stream causing various sounds To repair |
| machine switches cycles. Plumbing can make many | | | | this tighten the screw to the washer in the faucet |
| weird noises which can have many causes and; | | | | stem. If this doesn't work, then it's time for a new |
| sometimes, they're not easy to isolate and fix. The | | | | stem assembly. If your dishwasher or washing |
| following are some of the common issues. | | | | machine is causing the noise you may have a worn |
| 1. Water hammer. This noise doesn't happen with | | | | out solenoid fill valve. |
| flowing water, so if it occurs while your water is | | | | 4. High water pressure can cause a variety of |
| running, it isn't water hammer. As I mentioned at the | | | | problems including these noises. It can also damage |
| beginning of this article water hammer happens when | | | | toilet valves and other devices connected to the |
| you turn OFF a water suddenly. Shutting off the | | | | plumbing. I saw an issue on a forum last week where |
| water suddenly sends a pressure or shock wave | | | | water pressure was cited as the cause for a hand |
| down the water line through the water shocking the | | | | held shower hose coming loose. If you're on a water |
| pipes and creating the hammer noise. These shock | | | | system, ask your neighbors if they are having similar |
| waves travel faster than the speed of sound and | | | | problems or simply call your water supplier and ask |
| can exert very instant pressure. Over an extended | | | | that they come out and check your pressure |
| time, water hammer can damage pipes, valves and | | | | settings. If you have a well you should have a water |
| eventually weaken pipe joints. This may in itself | | | | pressure meter. If the pressure is above 60psi you |
| cause additional problems as in #6. Most newer | | | | may want to adjust your pressure reducer |
| homes have devices called hammer arresters that | | | | 5. Pipes rubbing or bumping inside the walls because |
| are air filled chambers connected to the plumbing that | | | | they aren't strapped down well or because the stud |
| let the pressure wave dissipate harmlessly into a | | | | pass through holes are too small or off center. If this |
| cushion of air. These arrestors can become filled with | | | | is the case they've probably made the sounds since |
| water and stopworking. If the banging in your home | | | | the house was built.. If this is the problem you will |
| has been happening forever you may not have one. | | | | have to call a plumber to make the repair. This can |
| To correct this you must drain your house of all the | | | | be far too complicated for the average homeowner |
| water in the pipes.. Turn off your water to the house | | | | do-it-yourselfer to handle. |
| at the main shut off valve or at the meter. Find the | | | | 6. Pressure regulator. If you have a pressure |
| lowest faucet in your house, often this is an outdoor | | | | regulator on your main water line it may be faulty. If |
| hose faucet, and open it. Then open the faucets that | | | | your pounding sound happens while the water's |
| is in the highest place in the house. Let the low | | | | running, it happens at more than one faucet, turning |
| faucet drain for 5 minutes or until it stops dripping, | | | | on other faucets changes the cadence, the pressure |
| whichever takes longer. Close all the faucets and turn | | | | changes with the pounding, While the noise is |
| the main back on. When you turn the water back on | | | | happening, check to see if it is coming from the |
| the pipes will have air in them and will sputter until | | | | regulator. If so, the regulator may need to be |
| this air is dissipated don't panic. | | | | replaced. |
| 2. Faulty toilet fill valve (ballcock) will cause resonance | | | | I hope this information has helped you track down |
| sounds like a fog horn or a moan. It's easy to check. | | | | your plumbing noises and given you enough info to |
| Close the supply valves to all the toilets. If the noise | | | | effect a repair yourself, or better yet I hope you |
| disappears, open them one-by-one till the noise starts | | | | get a new job which takes your mind off the issue |
| again. Replace the ballcock in that toilet. If there are | | | | and gives you the money to pay someone to come |
| no shut-offs handy, sometimes you can locate the | | | | and fix it. |